North Carolina lawmakers return for second step on Florence aid

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers are going back to work to decide on approving hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up from Hurricane Florence and help the storm’s victims.

The General Assembly prepared to reconvene Monday the special session that Gov. Roy Cooper began two weeks ago. At that time, the GOP-controlled legislature located $56 million and eased rules on voter registration and public school calendars for the hardest-hit counties.

Now GOP leaders say they’re ready to set aside nearly $800 million more. Cooper last week unveiled a $1.5 billion recovery plan and asked for $750 million of that this week as a down payment, with a focus on housing, farmers and schools.

This legislative gathering is expected to last only one day. It comes three weeks before General Assembly elections.

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